Trolley shoe current collector



May 7, 1946. Y M, F5151' 2,399,995

l .TROLLEYSHOE CURRENT COLLECTOR Filed Dec. `:51, 1943 Patented May 7, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,399,995 Y y c TROLLEY SHOE CURRENT COLLECTOR Charles M. Feist, Sioux City, Iowa. Application December 31, 1943,` Serial No. 516,404

(ci. isi-59.1)

Claims.

My invention pertains to a trolley shoe.

An object of my invention is to provide a trolley shoe which will-provide a snug and rm contact with the overhead cable of `a trolley line at all times, and regardless of the angle thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide a shoe of this character which includes an automatic feeding brush which will feed to the contacting area as it becomes necessary without providing too rapid a feeding action or a too slow a feeding action.

A further object of my invention is to provide a brush arrangement which is uniformly fed to the cable along tapered surfaces for the above reasons, and which includes certain interlocking means between the brush members to maintain the brush at the desired level,

A further object of my invention is to provide a shunt contact means to by-pass the resilient springs in the arrangement for the purpose be described.

A further object of my invention is to provide a rockable shoe, which will rock according to the requirement of angularity of the trolley pole.

A further and important object of my invention is to provide means so that the brushes when worn can be readily replaced without requiring dis-assembly of the entire unit.

A further object of my invention is to provide resilient and automatic features to engage the contacting elements with the overhead cable regardless of shocks, jars, and the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for adjusting the tension of the brush members.

A further object of my invention is to provide an easily assembled arrangement which is simple in construction.

With these and other objects in view, my lnvention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, Whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines I-I of Figure 2, and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section taken generally along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1. Y

I have used the character I0 to designate a metal trolley pole, which is suitably attached at the top of a trolley car or similar vehicle, and to which pole I0 is attached the split head comprising the two side members II which are adapted to receive the contacting arrangement of my in- 36 to the memberI I1.

vention. Received within the members II are a pair of pins I2 which include the threaded extensions I3 upon which are threadably engaged the nuts I4 receivedwithinthe cavities I5. The pins -I2 `are each attached to or Yformed integrally from the `central pin or shaft I6 which shaft I6 is thereby adapted to rock relative to the side members II,

Attached to the shaft or pin I6 is a tapered member I1 including the tapered sides I 8 and spaced from the sides I8 are the further tapered end walls I9 including the tapered surfaces 29 against which surfaces and between the tapered surfaces I8 are placed the contacting brushes 2| which brushes fcanbe made of graphite, carbon, or any other suitable material. The brushes 2| include the opposed interlocking notches 22 which are adapted to nest one within the other as the brushmaterial of the brushes 2I is fed upwardly, and the upper spacing between these notches is very slight, and increases as the notches progress downwardly so `that the brushes will be locked together at any vertical movement or position and will thereby not spring out of place and whereby the upper contacting surfaces 23 ofthe brushes will constantly remain at the lower level of the trolley cable 24. i

The spacing between these notches is so graduated sorthat the brush material will be fed to the upper level and to that level only due to this interlocking arrangement.

In order to feed the brushes 2I upwardly as they are used I provide the members 25 having the cavities 26 through which cavities` are placed the pins 21 which are'attached to the vertical rods 28 which rods terminate in the heads 29.

I further provide a forcing member 30 including the extending legs 3l under which legs are received theheads 29 and between the members 25 and 3| arev positioned the compression springs 32 which receive the annular portions 33 and 34.

A pair of wire leads 35 are suitably connected to the members 25 and are thence connected at The member 30 includes an opening 31 through which is received the rod 38 which is attached at 39 to the member I1 and which is threadably engaged at 40 with the nut 4I, this'nut being provided to maintain compres`` sion against the springs. The side bows 42 include the integral horizontal portions 43 the upper surfaces of which are rounded to conform to the cable 24 and the portion 43 extends into the downwardly projecting angularly positioned flanges 44 which are adapted to be attached against the surfaces 45 which extend from the walls I9. The machine screws 46 are provided for this purpose, and attached at one side to one of the flanges 44 and against the surface 45 is a flat metal member 48 which is attached to a lead 49 which is attached at 50 to the pole structure.

Also attached to the end walls I9 and to the sides of the portion 48 are a pair of downwardly extending dished portions including the bottom walls 52 and which include the opening at 53 for receiving the aforesaid flange 44. 'I'he members 5| include the sides 54 which sides merge -flush with the sides of the upper member 42, the

portion 54, however, being split apart at 55 from the members 42, so that as a result the members 42, and the portions 43 and 44 are all one unit piece and are separate from the portions 54 and 52. This allows for removal of the upper piece comprising the members 42 etc. It should be noted that the members 43 also include the tapered portions at 56 which are coincident with the tapers for apparent reasons.

The lead 49 is attached to provide a shunt connection so that the current will not pass through the springs 32 thereby maintaining the quality of the springs. The leads 35 and 36 convey the current from the brushes and provide al shunt feature with the contact being also carried through the large pin I6. The members 42 include the arcuate surfaces at 51 which abut against stops 58 (see Figure 2) which are attached to the members I l to limit angular movement of the entire assembly.

It will be noted from the above description that the entire assembly unit comprising the brushes 2l, the housing I9, the members 42, 52, and springs 32, the members 3U, 38, and the tapered member l'l will provide a complete vcomposite body and will thereby be pivoted about the pins I2 as a single unit. As the trolley passes along the overhead wire 24 it can then provide a contact regardless of angular position of the pole for this reason and in some cases where the trolley passes over a crossing the pole may be raised to a considerable angle and the device will still function properly.

It will be further noted that the cable contacts the surface 23 of the brushes at all times, due to the pressure of the springs 32. It will be further noted that a contact is applied by the flange 43 thereby providing a constant uniformv contacting arrangement, which contact is constantly lubricated with graphite etc., to provide the best type of contact which Contact is applied at just the proper pressure, without too great a pressure by virtue of the interlocking arrangement of the brushes.

When the members 42 and flanges 43 are worn, this unit can be quickly detached and replaced, due to the above described split arrangement.

Also the brushes when worn down can be replaced readily by removing the assembly mounted on the nut 4 l, and it will be noted that the members 25 are rockably mounted on the pins 21 so that the pressure can be uniformly applied against the brushes regardless of the angularity thereof.

From the above description it will be noted that the entire unit will wear a relatively long time and can be readily replaced when worn, and provides a firm and snug contacting arrangement.

It will also be seen that this arrangement provides all of the advantages mentioned in the objects of my invention, other advantages being readily apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention Without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A trolley shoe current collector comprising in combination with the end ofa trolley pole, a current collector pivotally mounted at the end thereof, said collector including a pair of brushes, and having upwardly converging channels receiving said brushes, means for feeding said brushes upwardly against an overhead trolley wire, including springs bearing against said brushes, a spring retaining member upon which said springs are mounted, said brushes having opposed interlocking serrated surfaces for preventing relative vertical movement of said brushes with respect to each other.

2. A trolley shoe current collector comprising in combination with the end of a trolley pole, a current collector pivotally mounted at the end thereof, said collector including a pair of brushes, and having upwardly converging channels receiving said brushes, means for feeding said brushes upwardly against an overhead trolley Wire, including springs bearing against said brushes, a spring retaining member upon which said springs are mounted, said brushes having opposed interlocking serrated surfaces for preventing relative vertical movement of said brushes with respect to each other, spring abutment means mounted on said springs adapted to press against the lower surfaces of said brushes, said spring abutment means being rockably mounted with respect to the springs.

3. A trolley shoe current collector comprising in combination with the end of a trolley pole, a current collector pivotally mounted at the end thereof, said collector including a pair of brushes, and having upwardly converging channels receiving said brushes, means for feeding said brushes upwardly against an overhead trolley wire, including springs bearing against said brushes, a spring retaining member upon which said springs are mounted, said brushes having opposed interlocking serrated surfaces for preventing relative vertical movement of said brushes with respect to each other, spring abutment means mounted on said springs adapted to press against the lower surfaces of said brushes, said spring abutment means being rockably mounted with respect to the springs, said serrations normally being slightly separated to provide means whereby said springs will force said brushes upwardly and towards each other-upon erosion of the upper surfacesof the brushes.

4. A trolley shoe current collector comprising in combination with the end of a trolley pole, a current collector pivotally mounted at the end thereof, said collector including a pair of brushes, and having upwardly converging channels receiving said brushes, means for feeding said brushes upwardly against an overhead trolley wire, including springs bearing against said brushes, a spring retaining member upon which said springs are mounted, said brushes having opposed interlocking serrated surfaces for preventing relative vertical movement of said brushes with respect to each other, spring abutment means mounted on said springs adapted to press against the lower surfaces of said brushes, said spring abutment means being rockably mounted with respect to the springs, said serrations normally being slightly separated to provide means whereby said springs will force said brushes upwardly and towards each other upon erosion of the upper surfaces of the brushes, said collector including a centrally positioned member having upwardly converging walls providing portions of said channels, said brushes abutting against said walls.

5. A trolley shoe current collector comprising in combination with the end of a trolley pole, a current collector pivotally mounted at the end thereof, said collector including a pair of brushes, and having upwardly converging channels receiving said brushes, means for feeding said brushes upwardly against an overhead trolley wire, including springs bearing against said brushes, a spring retaining member upon which said springs are mounted, said brushes having opposed interlocking serrated surfaces for preventing relative vertical movement of said brushes with respect to each other, spring abutment means mounted on said springs adapted to press against the lower surfaces of said brushes, said spring abutment means being rockably mounted with respect to the springs, said serrations normally being slightly separated to provide means whereby said springs will force said brushes upwardly and towards each other upon erosion of the upper surfaces of the brushes, said collector including a centrally positioned member having upwardly converging walls providing portions of said channels, said brushes abutting against said walls, shunt electrical connections by-passing said springs.

CHARLES M. FEIST. 

